You know how important brushing your child’s teeth is but does your child know? It’s not uncommon for young children to resist brushing their teeth on a daily basis. Brushing their teeth requires them to stop what they’re doing and spend a few minutes standing in the bathroom. No little one would rather brush their teeth than play with their toys, right? Brentwood Pediatric Dentistry is here to help you change that! Brushing teeth can be lots of fun when you take the time to make it a great experience rather than a dreaded one.
How can you instill good brushing habits in your children? In our guide below, we list several helpful tips to make brushing fun for your children. Continue reading below to learn more!
Start By Being a Good Example
Your children are always watching everything you do. This means you’re constantly setting an example for them. One of the easiest ways to encourage little ones to brush their teeth is to set a good example.
If you want your children to brush their teeth on a regular basis, then you should let them see you brushing your teeth on a daily basis as well. When they see you doing this each morning and night, then they’ll be more willing to try it out as well.
It’s also a good idea to brush your teeth alongside them so they’re not the only ones having to brush.
Begin Brushing at a Young Age
Do you know the best age to start brushing a child’s teeth? The best age to start brushing is as soon as your child grows in their first tooth. You can even begin brushing their gums as an infant to help keep them healthy as well.
Once you do see a tooth grow in, you’ll want to contact their pediatric dentist in Franklin, TN, and schedule their first appointment. If you begin brushing their teeth at a young age and taking them to visit the dentist at a young age, then they’ll be used to doing both and won’t resist it as much.
Brush to a Silly Song
It’s a good rule of thumb to brush your teeth for two whole minutes. One minute is spent on the top teeth and the other minute is spent on the bottom teeth. A great way to ensure your child’s brushing for a full two minutes is to brush to a silly song that’s at least two minutes in length.
If you can play a video with the song, then this is even better! Your child might become lost in watching the video that they even forget they’re brushing their teeth. It’s also beneficial to find a silly song video that’s intended to help young children brush their teeth.
Browse the internet until you find something you think would work best.
Use a Reward System/Brushing Chart
Children love to be rewarded for their good behavior. There’s also research that proves positive reinforcement can help your child feel more validated and make following rules feel more natural. How can you reward your child for brushing their teeth?
For starters, you can create a brushing chart. You may be able to find a few brushing charts that you can purchase as well. Each time your child brushes their teeth, they can clip themselves up on the chart or place a sticker on the am or pm slot for that day when they brushed.
When they reach the end of the week and have brushed each morning and night of every day, you can reward them with a small prize. They’ll look forward to receiving something special each week.
Allow Them to Select Their Toothpaste and Toothbrush
When you allow your child to select their own toothpaste and toothbrush, they may be more willing to brush their teeth each day. Bring them to the store with you and let them choose. Many stores carry a wide variety of fun toothbrush designs and toothpaste flavors.
They may find a favorite character on a toothbrush that they’ll enjoy using. They might also find a yummy toothpaste flavor to use as well.
Teach Them About Cavities and Bad Oral Hygiene
It’s important to teach your child about cavities and the effects of bad oral hygiene. Our young children might not want to brush their teeth because they don’t understand the importance of it. Take the time to review some information about cavities and bad oral health.
Show them pictures of what cavities look like and what they do to our teeth. Explain to them the importance of visiting the dentist on a regular basis and preventing visits to the emergency pediatric dentist. When your child understands what can happen to their teeth if they don’t brush and floss them, it’ll be easier to convince them to do so.
How Can Brentwood Pediatric Dentistry Maintain Your Child’s Oral Health?
Are you on the hunt for a Brentwood childrens’ dentistry office? Scheduling regular pediatric dentist visits for your child is the best way to ensure you maintain good oral health and hygiene for them. If your child’s first tooth grew in, or if you’re looking for a new dentist near you, then be sure to contact Brentwood Pediatric Dentistry.
At Brentwood Pediatric Dentistry, we strive to provide a comfortable and safe environment for your child. We want both you and your child to feel at ease from the moment you walk in the office doors.
Schedule your child’s first appointment today to get started down the path to healthy teeth!